Fruitlands

Fruitlands is a historic site with a preserved farmhouse on a 90-acre property in Massachusetts that was once the setting for a transcendentalist experiment. The property sits on a hillside with open views across the Nashua River Valley and peaks in New Hampshire.

Charles Lane bought the farm in May 1843 for 1800 dollars and founded a community here that sought spiritual growth through physical health. The settlement lasted only a few months, but the grounds were later transformed into a museum.

The name comes from the founders' belief that fruit trees and vegetables were the only morally acceptable food. This conviction shaped not just their diet but the entire way of life during the community's brief existence.

Several buildings are open for exploration, including the original residential house and a Shaker office building from a nearby village. The site lies outside the town center and requires a car to reach.

The residents rejected animal labor entirely and used no draft animals, which made farm work extremely difficult. Even wool was considered immoral, so all clothing had to be made from linen.